Report: Tyus Jones signs three-year, $28 million offer sheet with Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies have had a busy offseason, clearing cap space and dumping veteran players. Finally, they put that money to work.
According to a report from ESPN’s Malika Andrews, Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Tyus Jones signed a three-year, $28 million offer sheet from the Grizzlies.
Since Jones is a restricted free agent, the Timberwolves will have two days to match the contract or let him go in free agency. They will not have a chance at a sign-and-trade.
Minnesota would be in a tough spot if it matched the offer sheet, since it would put the team less than a million away from the luxury tax, an unenviable position for a potential non-playoff team.
Jones has not made a big mark in the NBA yet, but he only turned 23 in May. Going pro after a single year at Duke — when he won a national title — leaves him plenty of time to develop. In his fourth season with the Wolves, Jones averaged career-highs across the board with 6.9 points, 4.8 assists and 2.0 rebounds per contest.
Even as a backup, Jones still has plenty of untapped potential. He’s long been an analytics darling, dating back to his days out of college. And with an excellent free throw percentage, there’s reason to believe his three-point shooting — just 33.3 percent for his career — could quickly improve.
Memphis was only able to afford Jones because of a flurry of moves in recent days. In addition to a major deal that sent longtime point guard Mike Conley to the Utah Jazz, they also saved $3.1 million by shipping out C.J. Miles on Friday and pawned off Delon Wright earlier on Sunday.
While the Grizzlies still see No. 2 overall selection Ja Morant as their point guard of the future, Jones would be a serviceable backup with potential to be more than that.
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